Casket display and storage apparatus



Feb. 3, 1953 B. MAGID- CASKET DISPLAY AND STORAGE APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1950.

INVENTOR BERNARD MAGID ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1953 OFFICE CASKET DISPLAY AND STORAGE APPARATUS Bernard Magid, New York, N. Y.

Application April 10, 1950, Serial No. 164,931

1 Claim.

This invention relates to display and storage apparatus. An object of the invention is to provide a table or frame for displaying such bulky and heavy items as caskets and for storing an additional casket or the like in readily accessible fashion, so that the stored casket can also be viewed. An additional object is to provide such frame or table that is collapsible for compact storage or shipment, yet which is sufiiciently sturdy and solid for the purpose described. The various features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure of an illustrative embodiment thereof, and from the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the upper supporting frame and a separable lower support for a casket to be stored, with that lower support in its withdrawn viewing position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the frame or table alone;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the table along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, the storing support being shown inserted below the table top; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the table.

In the specialized use for which the novel apparatus is intended, a large casket is displayed on top of the table and a second casket is stored below the table top on a special structure affording easy access for removing and displaying the stored casket. The top, when in use, may carry board covering and is intended to be decorated by a curtain or screen of fabric that conceals its members in normal use. The curtain is withdrawn when a casket is to be installed below the table top or removed. The decorative details do not constitute a part of this invention and are therefore neither shown nor described in detail.

The framework of the illustrative embodiment includes a top rectangular frame ID of angle-iron with the flat surfaces of the angle-iron facing down and outward, respectively. The relatively long front and rear sides of the frame have connecting bands I2 to prevent the frame from spreading under load. At each end a U-shaped unitary leg structure I4 is attached, being formed of angle-iron including two uprights [4a and Nb, and a connecting bar llc at the bottom. The tops of the uprights are attached to the top frame by hinges l6. Leg structures l4 have fiat surfaces facing each other, while the other fiat surfaces of leg portions Ma and 14b face outward. Each angle-iron leg structure I4 is formed of a single length of angle-iron notched, bent, and welded into the U-shape shown. The top edges of the leg portion are carefully squared at 14d so as to abut the fiat lower surface of frame 0 and resist outward spreading of the legs. This feature contributes importantly to the strength of the frame without impairing its collapsibility for storage or shipment. Front leg portions Mb have stiff straps l8 pivotally secured thereto and are removably fastened by a stud 20 projecting forward from the frame 10 and by a removable cotter-pin through the stud, one stud and cotterpin being provided for each strap IS. A pair of like straps is also provided at the rear of the table.

A bar 22 is bolted to the legs II where portions [4a and I40 are joined, and fixes the separation of portions I40 of the two end leg structures. Welded at spaced points to bar 22 are parallel channels 24 extending forwardly a distance just less than the width of frame Ill. The spacing of these channels at the front of the structure is limited by strap 25 connected between them. Channels 24 have outwardly flared front extremities 21 as shown with wall portions which continue the sides of the channels as well as the bottoms of channels 24. The front edges of portions 21 are thinned to provide a smooth rise from the floor surface on which they rest.

A wheeled iron frame 28 that constitutes the removable support for a lower stored casket is shown in withdrawn position in Fig. 1 and in storage position in Fig. 3. This lower casket support has a pair of swivelled casters 30 at one end and another pair of casters 32 at the opposite end. Casters 30 and 32 are spaced the same distance as channels 24, and the wheels, while small enough in transverse dimension. to be received in those channels, are large enough to be guided for smooth operation of frame 28 in the fore-and-aft direction; that is, the width of the wheel faces is slightly smaller than the inside channel space. Front portions 21 of the channels have depressions 34 which serve with the front pair of casters 30 and 32 to detain. the frame 28 with its stored casket in the position received below the top frame 10.

It is seen that the all-metal structure shown can be collapsed by removing bar 22, front straps I8, and the corresponding rear straps. The full space below frame l0 and between legs M can be utilized to store a massive casket without wasted space, simply by removing straps I8 from studs 20 and removing the straps from the path of the casket, and restoring the straps to the positions shown after the casket is inserted. The

procedure is followed for removing a casket from storage below frame [0 for display or use.

Leg portions Ma and 14b are maintained parallel by their hinged connection to the table top, and by their connection to the ends of bar 22 which thus forms part of the stifiening means for the table or frame, yet bar 22 is removable to allow the U-shaped leg structures to swing toward each other. The squared upper ends 14d of uprights 14a and [4b and the front and rear pairs of removable straps 18 add to the stiffening means for the frame, yet are removable to permit compact shipment.

The clearance of the ends of the casket from legs 14 is assured by proper positioning of the casket centrally on frame 28, casters 30 and'32 being guided between the legs byochannels 24. The front wheels of frame 28 cooperate with depressions 34 in the channels to detain the lower frame in inserted position and straps l8 guard against accidental forward sliding-of a stored casket. The entire equipment affords display provision for a large and comparatively heavy casket at the top, yet provides safe and efficient storage and handling facilities for an additional equally massive casket. Two such caskets are illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 3.

Detailed modifications of the illustrative embodiment willnaturally occur to those skilled in the art and, accordingly, the appended claim kets including an elongated rectangular angleiron tOP, a pair of U-shaped angle-iron leg structures each having front and rear leg portions hinged adjacent the opposite ends of said top for swinging inwardly when the structure is to be collapsed, removable stifiening means extending slantwise from said top to each of said leg portions, a stiffening member connected to the bottom of one of said. U-shaped portionsand to the bottom of the other below alateralsedgeof said rectangular top, and parallel channels connected toand extending forward from said stiffening member, said channels having flared ends and embodying wheel-retaining depressions.

BERNARD MAGID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file :of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 748,770 Montgomery Jan. 5, 1-904 806,485 Parker Dec. 5, 1905 1,169,157 Honold Jan. 25, 1916 1,489,847 'OCOIlIlOl Apr. 8, 1924 1,510,972 Beam Oct. 7, 1924 1,626,507 Camper Apr. 26, 1927 1,638,173 Spaulding et-al. Aug. 9, 1927 1,662,586 Newman .Mar 13,1928 1,737,971 Law Dec. 3, 1929 1,841,412 'Leicht Jan. 19, 1932 1,966,751 Brefeldn July17, 1.934 

